fealty
UK: ˈfiːəlti | US: ˈfiːəlti
n. 1. A feudal tenant's or vassal's sworn loyalty to a lord.
n. 2. Fidelity or allegiance, especially in a historical or formal context.
fealty = feal<faithful> + ty<noun suffix>
- feal (from Old French feal, meaning "faithful," derived from Latin fidelis < fides "faith")
- ty (noun-forming suffix indicating state or condition, from Latin -tatem)
Etymology Origin:
Fealty traces back to medieval feudalism, where it denoted a vassal's oath of loyalty to a lord. The root feal reflects the Latin fides ("faith"), emphasizing the solemn, binding nature of the commitment. Over time, the term expanded to symbolize unwavering allegiance beyond feudal contexts, retaining its formal and historical connotations.
The knights swore fealty to their king in a solemn ceremony.
Fealty was a cornerstone of the feudal system, ensuring mutual obligations.
Modern employees don’t pledge fealty, but loyalty remains valued.
The novel explores themes of fealty and betrayal in a medieval setting.
His fealty to the cause never wavered, despite the challenges.